Why in the News?

The newly published Global Peatland Hotspot Atlas builds on earlier work, including the Global Peatlands Assessment (2022) and the updated Global Peatland Map 2.0, both key initiatives of UNEP’s Global Peatlands Initiative, which was established during the UNFCCC COP in Marrakech, Morocco, in 2016.

About Peatlands

• These are wetlands where waterlogged conditions inhibit the complete decomposition of plant material, leading to the gradual accumulation of peat, which is partially decomposed plant matter.
• Global Coverage: Peatlands occupy 3.8% of the Earth’s land surface, with significant regions found in:
  • Europe’s naturally forested peatlands
  • Tropical peat swamps in Southeast Asia
  • Permafrost areas in Russia and Canada
  • High-altitude peatlands in the Andes and Himalayas
  • The Congo Basin, home to the world’s largest tropical peatlands
• Degradation:
  • Approximately 12% of global peatlands are degraded, with over 60% of Indian peatlands affected.
  • Major threats include agriculture, industrial activity, peat extraction, and infrastructure development, contributing 4% of global anthropogenic emissions.
• Key Initiatives: Notable actions include the Guidelines for Global Action on Peatlands (2002) and the UNEA-4 resolution (2019) focused on peatland conservation and sustainable management.